Coastal zone sensitivity mapping and its role in marine environmental management

The successful management of the coastal zone requires reliable and accurate information which must be available in a ‘user-friendly’ format. The most effective instruments for providing such information are resource maps and atlases. The paper discusses the characteristics of a ‘good’ atlas including general design and layout, cartography, symbols and legend, vulnerability index and text. Computer technology as applied to mapping is also briefly discussed. The paper ends with comments on project design and management for the successful production of an atlas which will serve as a versatile tool for coastal zone management.